US Intelligence Agencies Say Russia Aims to Help Sanders in Presidential Election

Report Separately to Sanders, Trump, and Congress

Senator Bernie Sanders, who is running in the Democratic presidential primary, is campaigning in Reno, Nevada on the 18th (local time).

The Washington Post (WP) reported on the 21st (local time) that U.S. authorities have identified circumstances suggesting that Russia is attempting to assist Senator Bernie Sanders' campaign as part of its interference in the U.S. Democratic primary.

WP cited multiple sources saying that U.S. officials informed Senator Sanders that "Russia is trying to help the Sanders campaign as part of its efforts to interfere in the Democratic primary."

WP also reported that President Trump and Congress have been briefed on Russia's support for Senator Sanders.

Although the report did not specify which agencies or officials were involved, the fact that President Trump, Congress, and Senator Sanders were informed suggests that U.S. authorities have obtained a significant level of intelligence regarding Russia's activities.

However, WP added that it remains unclear how exactly Russia intends to assist the Sanders campaign.

It is known from U.S. prosecutors' investigations that during the 2016 U.S. presidential election, Russia used social media to boost the Sanders campaign to block Hillary Clinton and ultimately help elect President Trump.

Senator Sanders sent a statement to WP saying, "Honestly, I don't care who (Russian President) Putin wants as (U.S.) president," and added, "My message to Putin is clear: stay out of the U.S. election."

President Trump is under intense pressure as signs of a repeat of the "Russia scandal" emerge. After intelligence agencies reported to the House Intelligence Committee on the 13th about the possibility of Russian interference in the U.S. election, Trump replaced the acting Director of National Intelligence with Richard Grenell, a loyalist and U.S. ambassador to Germany, and loudly claimed that the Russia interference allegations are a Democratic hoax.

Some have predicted that from President Trump's perspective, it would be most advantageous if Senator Sanders became the Democratic presidential nominee. They argue that by targeting Sanders, who identifies as a democratic socialist, Trump could frame the contest as "liberalism versus socialism."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.